LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club announced the official signing of NaYeong Shin to the inaugural USL Super League roster pending league and federation approval on Friday, July 12th.
Na-Young comes to Lexington after a four-year career in the K League, the top flight of women’s soccer in South Korea.
Outside of her club career, NaYeong also boasts national team experience, having suited up for the U17, U19, and U20 South Korea Women’s National Teams.
Her first national call-up came in 2016 with the U17s before she earned six separate call-ups to the U19 team in 2017, participating in training camps during six different months of the year. She also helped the squad in preparation for the AFC Women’s Championships with three caps and officially sanctioned matches against Japan, North Korea, and China.
Then, in 2019, NaYeong earned further call-ups with the U20 national team — which is the university level and similar to the NCAA Division-I All-American squad — taking part in nine training camps and earning five additional caps against Russia, Italy twice, Japan, and China.
Looking back to her club career, ahead of becoming a professional, NaYeong attended college at Daedeok University, racking up numerous accolades during her tenure. She won the 2019 Spring Korea Women’s Football Federation Defensive Award (Defensive Player of the Year) and 2019 Autumn Korea Women’s Football Federation Outstanding Player Award (MVP).
Her stellar college career saw her drafted to the K League for Seoul City Amazones FC after just two seasons.
NaYeong would play one season for Amazones FC, making 12 starts and 19 appearances as a rookie, before moving to Changnyeong WFC. With Changnyeong, NaYeong made 23 starts in 34 appearances.
Her most recent move prior to Lexington was to Hwacheon KSPO FC, where she once again became a mainstay in the starting XI, starting all 29 matches she played in.
Lexington SC will kick off its first ever USL Super League season on August 25 away at Carolina Ascent FC before hosting its home opener on September 8, facing the Tampa Bay Sun FC.
“It means the world to me and I’m so excited to be a part of Lexington. I want to be a player that can make an instant impact and bring joy to the fans. I’m excited to be with a great coaching staff and new teammates!” said Shin.
About Lexington Sporting Club
Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer third division men’s professional soccer), and in USL Super League (women’s professional soccer launching in 2024). The two professional teams are the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems. Lexington SC in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.